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Game Over

A poem bringing violence into perspective from video games to real life.

Elizabeth Marshall

Jan 02, 2017

Old Dominion University

New York Times

There's a

Destructive imagination

We call them

Video games

We fantasize about wars

And killing people

Are

Developing ways

To make virtual

A reality

But in reality

There are people

Who

Live that in actuality

Daily

A dark game

That

Never ends

You can't

Unplug

Power off

If you

Die

You can't

Respawn

You don't get

Unlimited defenses

Bullets

Coming towards you

Don't deflect

Because they're

Not just a

Visual effect

You can't choose

"Easy mode"

The controller is

Glued to your hands

And you don't

Control the buttons

Background noise

Isn't

Obscene jokes

Through

The headset

It's

Crying, screaming

Agonizing

Tangible

Fear

It's

Death

And those hearts

To save up

Aren't blinking on the screen

To give you life

Where's your heart?

You sold it

To the screen

For three hundred

Pieces of paper

For a console

As your consolation

From reality

Where once you die

That's it

Game over.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Game Over

A poem bringing violence into perspective from video games to real life.

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This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

Run Around Clanging Pots and Pans in Everyone's Face

Eat the Last Few Pigs in a Blanket

Pop Twelve White Grapes

Burn Something

Smash Things Against a Wall

Spontaneously Begin an Irish Jig

Call Your Mother

Throw a Coffee Table Out a Window

Sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the Top of Your Lungs

Do Some Squats

Swan Dive into a Nearly Freezing Body of Water

Take a Shot

Time to be merry and bright.

"First Noel" by Leslie Odom, Jr

"A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Kelly Clarkson

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey

"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" by Michael Buble

"Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift

"The Christmas Song" by Josh Groban

"White Christmas" by Idina Menzel

"O Holy Night" by David Archuleta

"Believe" by Josh Groban

"Les cloches du hameau" by Celine Dion

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

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3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

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7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

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